City of Waterloo Named a Tree City for the 39th year in a Row!

For the 39th year in a row, the City of Waterloo has been named a Tree City USA. Waterloo is one of 74 Iowa communities to qualify for the status. Jacob Geller, Natural Resources Technician at Leisure Services, received the award on the City’s behalf at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Award luncheon earlier this month.

To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

“I encourage everyone to plant a tree on Arbor Day. If property owners choose to plant a tree on the right of way between the sidewalk and street, they should contact Waterloo Leisure Services at 319-291-4370 to approve the planting. Leisure Services staff will work with the property owner to make sure the right tree is planted in the right place,” said Todd Derifield, Assistant Director/City Forester.

The designation comes as the City of Waterloo recognizes Arbor Week with a proclamation to be read at tonight’s city council meeting:
     1. Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April - this year it is on April 28, 2023.
     2. Waterloo has been named a TREE CITY USA for the 39th year in a row largely due to the commitment made by this Council & Mayor as well as previous Councils & Mayors to manage our urban forest.
     3. Waterloo Leisure Services will be distributing 240 trees purchased through the Plant Waterloo program on May 4th. These trees have been purchased already by Waterloo citizens. This program is possible due to a generous grant from the Young Family Foundation.
     4. Waterloo Leisure Services will be involved with a tree planting on May 5th in the Highland Neighborhood. Assisting in this planting will be Highland Neighborhood Association volunteers, Green Iowa AmeriCorps service members and city crews.
     5. Nineteen trees will be replanted along University Avenue that died and were out of warranty with a grant received from MidAmerican Energy.


 JacobPicture (left to right); Jacob Geller/Natural Resources Technician at Leisure Services, Kayla Lyon/Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Jeff Goerndt/State Forester.